Rack



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. S. HOLABIRD ET AL.

RACK

Filed April 28, 1942 Dec. l5, 1942.

Patented Dec. 15, 1942 RACK William S. Holabird, Hamilton, Ind., and Thomas` B. Better-ton, Chattanooga,.'1enn., assignors to Holabird Furniture Company, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois lpplication April 28, 1942, Serial No. 440,838

13 Claims.

This invention relates to wall racks of the type embodying the plurality of vertically spaced horizontal shelves, and more particularly theinvention relates to such racks adapted to bel shipped in knocked down form to beerected at the place where they are to be used.

Extensible wall racks of the aforesaid character are widely used for storage purposes in industrial tool rooms and store rooms, andthave in the past been constructedI from steel sothat the elements thereof might be readily bolted together on the job, and such prior wall racks were readily extensible through erection` of additional rack sections connected together and to the endsA of the` previously erected sections. Such prior racks were also adapted for convenient disassembly so as to facilitate rearrangement of storage facilities. Since the steel employed in such prior racks is now commercially unavailablefor such uses, it is an. important object of the present invention to enable racks of the aforesaid character to be constructed from` a material such as natural wood or plywood, and to attain, in such racks made from wood, all the features of ready erection, disassembly, and convenient extensibility which have heretofore been obtainedin racks made from steel.

InA extensible wall racks. as heretofore constructed from steelit has generallyL been necessary toutilize whatwere termed finishing strips at the exposedends of the end sectionsin order to impart a iinished appearance thereto,.and this ofcourse has required that the exact .layout` of the proposed racks be known when the material for such racks is being prepared for shipment. I'

This represents a marked objection to the structure of such prior wall racks, and a further object of this invention is to enable, the elements of suchy a rack to be made from Vwood in such a manner that the parts may be assembled to impart a finished `appearance to an end of the rack through the use of the same parts as would be used if this particular'end of the rack were to be joined to another rack section.

A further object of this invention is to enable the same structural parts to be employed in producing racks either with or without a rear wall or closure member.

Another object-of this invention is to enable extensible wall racks to be made4 from wood in such a manner as to attain unusual strength and rigidity in the rack, and a further object istoso assemble and relate, parts ofthe racks that additional rack sections may be readily and easily built onto either or both of the ends of a previf ously erected rack. Further objects related to the foregoing are to enable an erected rack made from wood to be disassembled readily and easily and in such a manner that the rack maybe again erected in another location; to enable supporting sections for. wooden racks tobe assembled at the factory in such a. manner as to facilitate erection of the racks in the field, and to assemble the racks with the` minimum of manually performed connecting operations.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, shows a preferredembodiment and the principle thereof and what we now consider to be the best mode in which we have contemplatedapplying that principle. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changesmay be made as desired by those. skilled `in the art without departing from the present invention and. the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an extensible wall rack embodying the features of theV invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective View showing a portion of the rear face of one ofthe front supporting posts;

Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the formation of one vof the top rails ofthe rack;

Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of'Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the rack;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the rack; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmental vertical sectional view takenalong the line 1-1 of Fig. 5.

In the form chosen for disclosure herein the invention is illustrated as embodied in a multiple section rack I0 having rack sections IDA and IllB fully erected and ready for, use, and a third rack section IUC is illustratedin udotted outline in the position and relation in which it would be erected when it became necessary to expand the storage facilities afforded by the previously erectedrack sections IDA and IUB. Thesectional rack' of the present invention is of such a construction as to enable' the structural elements thereof to be made from wood, in the form of natural wood, plywood or the-like, and the rack is such that it may be shipped inY what may be termed fknockecl down relationfor erection by relatively unskilled help4 atl thelocation 4in which it is to be used. Furthermore, the rack'vsections of the present invention may be joined .together in the desired number, and sections may be added as required to form continuations of previously erected sections. The arrangement of the sectional rack of the present invention is such that the exposed end of an end section may be assembled so as to afford a finished appearance, and this result is attained merely through variation in the relationship of the same parts which are normally furnished for other or intermediate sections of the rack. Moreover, the present sectional rack may be disassembled and again erected where the user desires to rearrange the storage space afforded by such racks.

In attaining the foregoing advantageous results the sectional rack I of the present invention is formed from a plurality of similar upstanding frame assemblies I2 disposed'atand between tlie ends of the several sections and between 'which a plurality of horizontal, shelves I3, I4 and I5 are extended and supported as shown in Fig. 1. The frame assemblies 'I2 are preferably exact duplicates, and each comprises front and rear columns or posts I8 andvIB and top and bottom rails and 2| which connect the front and rear posts I8 and I9'to form a rigid structure or assembly. In the present instance the lower rail 2I is disposed between the lower ends of the front and rear posts I8 and I9 and the front and rear posts are secured to theends of the lower rail 2l by means such as nailsor screws 22 and if desired a suitable adhesive' or glue may also be -employed to augment the action of such nails or screws. In addition, where metal is available, angle brackets may be connected between the posts I8 and I9 and the lower Vrail 2 I. Thus an angle bracket 23 is secured by screws 24 to the rail 2| and the front post I8, and 'a similar angle bracket 23 is similarly connected between the rail 2| and the rear post I9 along the edges thereof. Such brackets may be used on both side edges of the lower rail 2I if desired. The upper rail 23 is also located between the front and rear posts I8 and I9 and the arrangement is such that the upper face of the upper rail 20 is fiush with the upper ends of the front and rear posts. The front and rear posts may be secured directly to the upper rail 20 by means such as nails or screws the fastening action of which would in any event be augmented by the use of suitable adhesive or glue joint. In .addition to such fastening of the members, however, we pre- .fer to employ corner blocks 25, one such corner block being disposed in each of the rail corners formed beneath the upper rail 2G. Thus as shown in Fig. '7 the corner block is secured by suitable adhesive to the lower face of the upper rail 20 and to the adjacent face of the adjacent post, and this fastening action is supplemented by spaced screws 26 one of which extends through the corner block and into the adjacent post, and the other of which extends through the corner block and into the top rail 20.

Thus it will be clear that the frame assemblies Y I?. are in the form of relatively rigid rectangular lof this invention the upper shelf I3 and the lower shelf I4 are-so formed that they may be readily -secured to the upper and lower rails respectively of a pair of'adjacent frame assemblies l2 to form a relatively rigid upstanding structure upon which the intermediate shelves I5 may then. be mounted and secured, To this end each of the top shelves I3 has a pair of openings 23 formed therein adjacent to each end of the shelf so that fastening means such as bolts 29 may be passed through these openings and through an upper rail 2i] which also has complemental openings 39 formed therein to receive the bolts 23. Similarly located openings are also formed in the lower rail 2! and in the lower shelf I4 so that bolts 32 may be extended therethrough to clamp the ends of the lower shelf I4 to the rails v2l. In the case of the lower rails 2i, the nuts for the bolts 3| may be countersunk into the lower surfaces of the rails 2l so that the rails 2l may rest flat upon the floor. After the upper and lower shelves I3 and I4 have thus been secured so as to extend between a pair of frame assemblies IZ, the intermediate shelves I5 may be put into position. To this end a plurality of supporting means are provided on the adjacent faces of the front and rear posts I8 and I9 so that the ends of the intermediate shelves I5 may be rested thereon. In the present instance these supporting means are provided by horizontal grooves 33 formed in the adjacent faces of the front and rear posts I8 and I9 at corresponding vertically spaced intervals. The grooves 33 are relatively shallow and extend entirely across the faces of the posts thereby to enable the intermediate shelves I5 to be shifted longitudinally into and along the grooves 33 in lthe mounting operation. After the intermediate shelves I5 have been located in the desired longitudinal positions a suitable fastening means may be put in place to hold the shelves i5 against shifting movement.

The fastening means which is illustrated in Figs. l to 5 of the drawings for holding the shelves I5 against displacement takes into account the fact that where two rack sections are assembled in an end to end relation, as illustrated by rack sections IGA and IDB, the two adjacent ends of the shelves of the two sections are supported bybut a single frame assembly I2. Thus in such instances, as will be clear in Figs. 1 and 2, the intermediate shelves I5 of each section extend but half way through the grooves 33 so that the ends of these shelves meet in substantially the central front to rear plane of the assembly l2, or in other words, substantially in the vertical plane which includes the vertical central axes of the front and rear posts. Preferably an individual fastening element is employed to secure each corner of each intermediate shelf I5 to the post which supports such corner. To this end a pair of screw holes or bores 34 are provided in the post I8 opposite each groove 33 so as to extend through the vpost I8 and open into such groove 33. These openings 34 are located, for each groove 33, in a, horizontal plane and on opposite sides of the vertical central plane of the frame assembly I2. 'Ihe bores 34 are located symmetrically with relation to the central plane of the assembly I2, and are spaced on opposite sides of the central plane so as to be located half way between this plane and the related side edge of the post I3. Thus when the two shelves of adjacent rack sections are extended into a groove 33 so as to meet in said central plane of the assembly, the two ends of the shelves I5 may be secured in place by screws 35 extended through the bores 34 and screwed into the edges of the shelves I5. To facilitate the insertion of the screws 35 as well as to simplify the location of the shelves in the proper relation to the frame assmblieszI'Z, suitable starting: holes .are Vformed in theedges of the shelves Iv tojreceive' the ends ofthe screwss35. Thesesstarting holes are spaced from the ends :of theshelves. I 5 in a distance equal to one fourth of the width `of the `posts I3.

The `rear edges of the shelves: I5 are also connectedto the rear posts. I9, land this end may be obtained through the` use `of bores 34, screws 35, and starting holes lin the edges ofi the shelves related and located substantially asr described with Arespect to theifront posts I8. InnFig. 4 of the drawings, however; we` have lillustrated Va slightlyzdifferent arrangement ory spacing lof :the fastening meansl and` in Vthis arrangement screws 36 are extended through preeformed bores inthe post` I9 so as to be. screwed .intosuitable starting holes in the rear edges of the shelves I5. This arrangement, wherein the screws 36 are not located midway between the edges of' the posts and the central plane of the assembly I2 :is vsatisfactory n most instances, but where finished appearance is to be imparted to an end of :an: end section of the rack, as will hereinafter be described, this arrangement Awill require new starting holes to be formed in one end of the rear edges of the` shelves I5. f

It has Ybeen vobserved thatl the ybores 34xare spaced from the edges of the post I8 in a distance equal to one-fourth of the width of the posts I8, and -a similar relationship isiemployed in connecting the upper and lower shelves I3 and I4 tothe frameassemblies. Thus the openings 28 in the upper shelf I3 are spaced from the'ends of the vshelf I3 in a distance equal to onefourth of the width of `the `upper rails 3,0, it being noted that the upper rail 20,' the lower rail 2li, and the front and rear posts I8and IS areof the same width; ATo receive the bolts l29 or otherV fastening means the `upper rail 2,0 is formed so that fastening means from "two upper shelves I3 may `pass through the upper rail. Thus as shown in Fig. 3 the fastening openings 30 are disposed Aon opposite sides of the vertical central plane of the assembly 22' so'that the openings are located half way between thiscentral plane and ther ladjacent edge of the upper rail 20. A similar spacing and arrangement is vemployed inlocating theopenings which lreceive the bolts 3|.

With the foregoing arrangement Vof Vthe openings such as Athe openings 28 and 30, the openings for the bolts 3|, and the openings 34, the same parts which are used in forming .an intermediate rack section IOB may also be used in providing a rack section such as the rack section IIIA wherein the exposed end of the rack section has a finished appearance. Thus, as best illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, the upper and lower` shelves I3 and I4 are placed in such a relation to the end frame assembly I2 that the ends of the shelves I3 and I4 are nush with the outer or remote edges of the upper and lower rails 2G and 2I. Hence the shelves I3 and I4 extend entirely across the upper and lower rails and 2|, and the -openings 28 are aligned with the pair of openings 30 closest to the outer edges of the end frame assembly I2. Similarly when the intermediate shelves I5 are put in place in the end section IIIA, the ends of these shelves I5 are located flush with the side edges of the end frame assembly I2. In other words, the shelves I5 extend entirely through the grooves 33, and the starting holesin the edges of the shelves I5 are thus aligned with the `right hand openings 34 as viewed in Fig.v 1. Fastening screws 35 are extended; through: the openings.. 3 4 whichA are thus aligned, with, the starting; holes' fof the shelvesj g At the otherr end ofthe two rack vsections which are shown erected in Fig. l, the ends of the shelves I3, I4 andv I5 arev so connected to the frame Yassembly I2 that the ends of the shelves are located substantially inv the vertical4 central planeof the frameassembly.` Thus theuser may readily add another section, such as the section EEC, in which event the ends of the shelves `I5 of the newsection IUC would be extended into the adjacent ends of the grooves .33, and gin the case ofthe upperand'lower shelves I3 and I4, would be rested upon and bolted` or otherwise secured tn the exposed half of the `upper surfaces Vof the `upper and lower rails T23 .and 2I1.

Through the use, ofI the fastene'dscrewsi and' the- .intermediate portions of the posts I8 and I9 are held against separation, `or :in other words, against outward` bowingwhen--the rack is placed-under load. In certain instances it may be desirable. to avo'idfthe necessity for shifting or moving vthe racksto insert additional fasteningscrews 35 when an added vsection such as the section .Il'C is Yto be connectedl to a previously erectedv rack section such' as .the rack section IB; In such vinstances the 4posts I8 :and I3 may be'made of a greater depth fromifront to rear so as lto'impart' greater strength thereto, or means in the nature of a tiezrod may.beextended between the front and rearposts intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof;V This means may be in the form of a 'metal tie'rod, where 'such ymetal isavailable, or it may` be formed by a wooden tie rod member .38, extended between the front and rear posts-and securely fastened thereto by means such aslscrews 39. Such a` ti'ejrod 38 is illustrated onlyin 6 of the drawings, but it will be understood that wherel fastening means such as therscrews 33 are to be eliminated, such a tie rod '38 would be provided in each of the frame assemblies I2. It will be understood, of' course, that two or more tie rods might be employedin each frame section I2, in which case the tie rods would be appropriately spaced vertically of the frame assemblies. l

In many instances it may be desirable to impart further bracing action to the adjacent rack sections; I llA'and IB, and in such instances a plurality of connecting bars 40 may be extended along the rear faces ofthe sections such as the sectionsV IDAjand IBB and may besecured to the rear posts I9 by bolts or by screws 4I. In some instances the upper one of the bars 40 may be located relatively close to the upper ends of the rear posts I9, thereby to prevent formation of a downwardly opening space behind the rack. In many uses of racks of the character to which the present invention pertains. it will Joe recognized that the racks may be open at .the rear as well as at the front thereof, but in other uses it is necessary to provide closedbacks upon the racks IU. The present invention makes vprovision for convenient incorporation of such a back or closure member, and this end is attainedthrough the provision of individual back panels which extend'between the rear posts of each section just `rearwardly of the rear `edgesof the shelves I3, I4 `and I5. In order that' such back panels 45 may be readily put in position, the rear corner of the rear postsv I9 are `rabbetted as indicated'at 46 to receive the edgeslof the panels 45. The panels 45 are preferably formedfrom plywood or from theother suitable Woodlike material, and these' panels are secured in place by screws 4`| which extend through the end portions of the panel and are screwed into the posts I9. Preferably the lowerv rear corner or'edge of the top shelf I3 is rabbetted as indicated at 4t in Fig, 7 of the drawings so that the upper edge of the rear panel 45 may enter into the rabbet 48 to effectively close and seal the upper edge of the rack against the interior or circulation of air and dust.

It will be recognized that the width and thickness of the posts I8 and I9 as well as the upper and lower rails 20 and 2| may readily be varied in accordance with the loads which are to be carried in the racks, and also that the length and the width of the shelves may be varied as required. In this connection it will be evident that where the width of the shelves I5 is unduly increased, the transverse strength thereof may be so reduced as to require the provision of cleats on thebottoms thereof, and in such instances the cleats are terminated at a sufficient distance from the front'and rear edges of the shelves I5 to enable the shelves to be slid endwise into the supi porting grooves 33. In Fig. 1 of the drawings the rack IlI is illustrated as having shelvesl I5 located at relatively great vertical intervals, but it will'be recognized that additional grooves 33 may be provided in the posts I8 and I9, as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, so that shelves such as those indicated in dotted outline at I5' may be mounted therein.

The fastening of the shelves I3 and I4 to the upper and'lower rails is preferably accomplished by bolts such as the bolts 29 and 3|, but it will be recognized that in some instances screws or the like might be used, and in such instances the holes 30 in the upper rail 20, and the corresponding openings in the lower rail 2| will be formed as starting holes which merely facilitate the location of the elements and the insertion of the screws.

From the foregoing description it will `be apparent that the present invention enables extensible vwall racks to be made from wood, thereby to avoid the use of appreciable amounts of metal, and under the present invention these racks vmade from wood, either natural wood or plywood, -are capable of ready erection by relatively unskilled help and may be conveniently extended to meet operating conditions in the establishment in which they are used.

Hence, whilevwe have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that this is capable of variation and modification and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but desire to avail ourselves of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

We claim:

l. In a sectional wall rack, a pair of frame assemblies each comprising spaced front andfrear posts formed from wood and top and bottom connecting rails formed from wood and joining said front and rear `posts in spaced and rigid relationship at the upper Vand lower ends respectively of said posts, said posts of each assembly having shelf supporting means at correspondingly spaced intervals on the adjacent faces thereof, top and bottom shelf members made from wood and having'fastening openings therein spaced from the Vadjacent ends of said shelves a distance equal Ato substantially one-fourth the width of said.

i Il

rails, the bordering end lportions'of said top and bottom'shelves being rested on the upper faces of the top and bottom rails respectively of the adjacent supporting assemblies, fastening means extended through the fastening openings of said shelves and secured to the rails to secure said shelves and said assemblies in a -rigid relation, at least one of said assemblies being so related to said shelves that the ends of the shelves are located substantially at the central front to rear plane of the assembly whereby to enable the top and bottom shelves of another rack section to overlie and be secured to the exposed portions of the upper faces of suchtop and bottom rails, and wooden intermediate shelves extending between and supported -by at least certain of the supporting means of the adjacent frame assemf blies. y

2. In a sectional wall rack, a plurality of frame assemblies each comprising spaced front and rear posts and top and bottom connecting rails join',- ing said front and rear posts in spaced and rigid relationship at the upper and lower ends respectively of said posts, the top and bottom rails of each of said assemblies eachk having securing openings formed therein symmetrically with respect to a center plane which includes the central axes of the two posts of the assembly and said securing openings being located substantially midway between said plane and the opposite edges of the rails, said posts of each assembly having shelf supporting means at correspondingly spaced intervals on the adjacent faces thereof, top and bottom shelf members having fastening openings therein at points corresponding to the locations of said fastening openings in said rails so that saidfastening openings in each such shelf are spaced from the adjacent ends of said shelf a distance equal to substantially onefourth the width of said rails, the bordering end ,portions of said vtop and bottom shelves being rested on the upper faces of the top and bottom rails respectively of adjacent supporting assemblies, fastening means .extended through the openings of said shelves and engaging the fastening openings of the rails to secure said shelves and said assemblies 4being so related to said shelves that the ends of the shelves are located substantially at said central plane of the assembly, and intermediate shelves extending between and supported by at least certain of the shelf supporting means of adjacent assemblies.

3. In a sectionalwall rack, a plurality of frame assemblies each comprising spaced front and rear posts formed from wood and top and bottom connecting rails formed from wood and joining said front and rear posts in spaced and rigid relationship at the upper and lower ends respectively of said posts, said posts of each assembly having shelf supporting means at correspondingly spaced intervals on the adjacent faces thereof, top and bottom shelf members madefrom wood and having fastening openings therein at points 'spaced from the adjacent ends of said shelves a distance equal to substantially one-fourth the width of said rails, the bordering end portions of said top and bottom shelves being rested on the upper faces of the top and bottom rails respectively of adjacent supporting assemblies, fastening means extended through the openings of said shelves and secured to the rails upon which the shelves are respectively rested to rigidly secure said shelves and said vassemblies in a rigid relation, at least one of said assemblies being so related to said shelves that the ends of the shelves are located substantially atthe central front to rear plane ofthe assembly, intermediate shelves extending between and supportedv by at least certain of the supporting means of adjacent frame assemblies, said front post having fastening means extended therethrough and lengaging each end portion of each such intermediate shelf.

4. In a sectional wall rack, a plurality of frame assemblies each comprising spaced front and rear posts made from wood and top and bottom connecting rails made from Wood and joining said front and rear posts in spaced and rigid relationship at the upper and lower ends respectively of said posts, the top and bottom rails of eachv of said assemblies each having securing openings formed therein symmetrically with respect to a center plane which includes the central -axes cf the two posts .ofi the assembly and said securing openings being located substantially midway between said plane and the opposite edges of the rails, said posts of each assembly having shelf supporting means 4at correspondingly spaced intervals on the adjacent faces thereof, top and bottom shelf members made from wood and having fastening openings therein atvpoints correspending-to vthe locations of said fastening openings in said rails so that said fastening openings in said shelf are spaced from the adjacent ends of said shelves a distance equal `to `substantially one-fourth the width of said rails, the bordering end portions of said top and bottom shelves being rested on the upper faces of the top and bottom rails respectively of adjacent supporting assemblies, fastening means extended through the openings of said shelves and engaging the fastening openings of the rails `to rigidly secure .said shelves and said assemblies in arigid relation, at least one of said assemblies being so related `to said shelves that the ends of the shelves are located substantially atsaid ycentral Iplane ofthe assembly, intermediate woodenv shelves extending between and supported by at least certain of the supporting means of adjacent assemblies, fasten'- ing means extended through the front posts of each kassembly and engaging each of the ends of each intermediate shelf; and `atleast one rear rail extended between the rear posts and across the rear faces thereof and connected to said rear posts.

5. In a sectional wall rack, a pair of frame assemblies each comprising spaced' front and rear posts formed from wood and'top and bottom connecting rails formed from Wood and joining said front and rear posts in spaced and rigid relationship at the upper and lower ends respectively'of said posts, said posts of each assembly having relatively shallow shelf supporting grooves extending horizontally and entirely across the adjacent faces thereof and at correspondingly spaced intervals vertically of said posts,I top and bottom shelf members made from wood and having fastening openings therein spaced froml the adjacent ends of said 4shelves a distance equal'to substantially one-fourth the width of .said rails, the bordering end portions of said top and bottom shelves being rested on the upper faces of the top and bottom rails respectively of the adjacent supporting assemblies, fastening `means extended through lthe fastening openings of said top and bottom shelves and secured Vto the rails to secure said shelves and said assemblies in a rigid relation, at least one of said assemblies being so related to said shelves that the ends of the shelves are located substantially at the central front to rear plane of the assembly whereby 75 to enable the top and bottom shelves of another rack section to overlie and be secured to the exposed portions of the upper faces of such tcp and bottom rails, and wooden intermediate shelves extending between said adjacent frame assemblies and engaged withsaid shelf supporting grooves in positions corresponding to the positions of said top and bottom shelves.

,6. In acsectional wall rack, a plurality of frame assemblies each comprising spaced front and rear posts formed from wood and top and bottom connecting rails formed from wood .and joining said front and rear posts in spaced and rigid relationship at the upper and lower ends respectively of said posts, said posts of each assembly having shelfsupporting means at correspondingly spaced intervals on the adjacent faces thereof, top and `bottom shelf. members made from `Wood and disposed sor that the bordering end portions of said top and bottom shelves are rested on the upper faces of the top and bottom rails respectively of adjacent supporting assemblies, fastening means securing said shelves to .the railsupon which the shelves are respectively rested to rigidly secure said shelves and said assemblies in a rigid relation, at least one of said assemblies being so relatedfto said shelvesthat the ends of the shelves are' located substantially at the centralfront to rear `plane ofthe assembly so as to thereby enabletop and bottom shelves of Vanother rack section'to be rested on and secured tothe thus exposed upper faces of1such top and bottom rails, intermediate wooden' shelves extending between and supported byy atleast certain of the support- .ing-meansy of ladjacent frame assemblies, and fastening'means extended `through said front posts and securing the `posts to each end portion of each such intermediate shelf.

7. In a sectional wall rack, a pair of frame assemblies -each Acomprising spaced front and 'rear rposts formed from wood and top and bottom connecting rails formed from wood and joining said front vand rear vposts in spaced and rigid relationshipV at the upper and lower ends respectively of said'posts, saidposts of each assembly having vshelf Vsupporting nmeans at correspondingly spaced intervals `on* the `adjacent faces thereof, top and bottom shelf-*members made from wood and disposed so that the bordering end portions of said top 4and bottom shelves are rested on the upper faces of the top and Abottom rails respectively of adjacent supporting assemblies, fastening means securing said shelves to the rails upon `which the shelves are respectively rested to rigidly secure said shelves and said assemblies in a rigid relation, one of said assemblies. being so related `to said top and bottom shelves that the ends of the shelves are located substantially at the central front to rear plane `of `the assembly so as to thereby enable top and 'bottom shelves of another rack section to be rested ,on and secured to they thus exposed upper Vfaces of such top `and bottom rails, and the .other one `of said assemblies being so related to said top and bottom shelves that said shelves extend entirely across `the upper faces of said top and bottomrails to thereby locate the end faces of such shelves in the plane of the exposed side edges of said top and bottom rails, intermediate Wooden shelves extending between and supported by lat least 'certain of the supporting means of adjacent frame assemblies, and `fastening means extended through at least certain of said posts and securing the posts to the end portions of at least certain of such intermediate shelves.

8'. In a sectional wall rack, a pair of frame assemblies each comprising spaced front and rear posts formed from wood and top and bottom connecting rails formed from wood and joining said front and rear posts in spaced and rigid relationship at the upper and lower ends respectively of said posts, said posts of each assembly having relatively shallow shelf supporting grooves extending horizontally and entirely across the' adjacent faces thereof and at correspondingly spaced intervals vertically ofrsaid posts, top and bottomv shelf members made from wood an-dhaving fastening openings therein spaced from the adjacent ends of said shelves a distance equal to substantially one-fourth the width of said rails, the bordering end portions of said top and bottom shelves being rested in at surface contact with and upon the upper faces of the top and bottom rails'respectively ofthe adjacent supporting assemblies, fastening means extended through the fastening openings of said top and bottom shelves and secured to the rails to secure said shelves and said assemblies in a rigid relation, at least one of said assemblies being so related to said shelves that the ends of the shelves are located substantially at the central front to rear plane of the assembly whereby to enable the top and bottom shelves of another rack section to overlie and b-e secured to the exposed portions of the upper faces of such top and bottom rails, Y

wooden intermediate shelves extending between said adjacent frame assemblies and engaged with said shelf supporting grooves in positions corresponding to the positions of said top and bottom shelves, and means connecting said front and rear posts intermediate the upper and lower rails to prevent outward bowing of said posts under load.

9. In a sectional wall rack, a plurality of frame assemblies each comprising spaced front and rear posts made from wood and top and bottom connecting rails made from wood and joining said front and rear posts in spaced and rigid relationship lat the upper and lower ends respectively of said posts, the top and bottom rails of each of said assemblies each having securing openings formed therein symmetrically with respect to a .center plane which includes the central axes of the two posts of the assembly andsaid securing openings being located substantially midway between said plane and the opposite edges of the rails, said posts of each assembly having shelf supportingmeans at correspondingly spaced intervals on the adjacent faces thereof, top and bottom shelf members made from wood and havi ing fastening openings therein at points corresponding to the locations of said fastening openings in said rails so that said fastening openings in said shelf are spaced from the adjacent ends of said shelves a distance equal to substantially one-fourth the width of said rails, the bordering end portions of said top and bottom shelves being rested in flat 'surface contact with and upon the upper faces of the top and bottom rails respectively of adjacent supporting assemblies, fastening means extended through the openings of 4said shelves and engaging the fastening openings of the rails to rigidly secure said shelves and said assemblies in a rigid relation, at least one of said assemblies being so related to said shelves that the ends of the shelves are located substantially at said central plane of the assembly, intermediate wooden shelves extending between and supported by at least certain of the supporting means of adjacent assemblies, said front posts having toI securing bores formed therein opposite the levels at which the shelves may be supported, there being two such bores at each possible shelf level and such bores being spaced from the opposite sides of the posts a distance equal to one-fourth the width of the posts, and fastening means extended through said bores in the front posts of each assembly and engaging each of the ends of each intermediate shelf.

10. In a frame assembly for sectional wall racks, said frame-assembly comprising front and rear posts made from wood and top and bottom rails also made from wood and rigidly connecting said front and rear posts at the upper and lower ends thereof, said front and rear posts having relatively shallow horizontal grooves formed in the adjacent faces thereof at corresponding vertically spaced intervals to receive edge portions of shelves when the frame assembly is erected as a part of a rack section, and having fastening openings therethrough opening into said grooves, there being two such openings for each groove and such openings beingsymmetrically located on opposite sides of the central front to rear plane of said frame assembly and one-half the distance between said plane and the side edges of the posts.

1l. In a sectional wall rack, a pair of frame assemblies each comprising spaced front and rear posts formed from wood and top and bottom connecting rails formed from wood and joining said front and rear posts in spaced and rigid relationship at the upper and lower ends respectively of said posts, said posts of each assembly having shelf supporting means at correspondingly spaced intervals on the adjacent faces thereof, top and bottom shelf members made from wood and having fastening openings therein spaced from the adjacent ends of said shelves a distance equal to substantially one-fourth the width lof said rails, the bordering end portions of said top and bottomshelves being rested on the upper faces of the top and bottom rails respectively of the adjacent supporting assemblies and 1n at surface Contact with said rails, fastening means extended through Vthe fastening openings of said shelves and secured to the rails to secure said shelves and said assemblies in a rigid relation, at least one of said assemblies being so related to said shelves that the ends of the shelves are located substantially at the central front to rear plane ofthe assembly whereby to enableI the'top and bottom shelves of another rack section to overlie and be secured to the exposed portions of the upper faces of such top and bottom rails, at least one wooden intermediate shelf Aextending between and supported by selected of thesupporting means of the adjacent frame assemblies, and tie rod means extended between corresponding front and rear posts intermediate `the associated upper and lower rails to prevent outward bowing of the posts under load.

, 12. In a frame assembly for sectional` wall racks, said frame assembly comprising front and rear posts made from wood and top and bottom rails also made from wood and rigidly connecting said front land rear posts at the upper and lower ends thereof, said front and rear posts having relatively shallow horizontal groovesformedl in the adjacent faces thereof at corresponding vertically spaced intervals to receive edge portions of shelves when the frame assembly is erected as a part of arack section, said, bottom and top rails having fastening openings therein accessible from the tops of said rails, there being at least two such openings in each rail and said openings in each rail being symmetrically located on opposite sides of the central front to rear plane of said frame `assembly and one-half the distance between said plane and the side edges of the rails.

13. In a frame assembly for sectional wall racks, said frame assembly comprising front and rear posts made from wood and top land bottom rails also made from wood and rigidly connecting said front and rear posts at the upper and lower ends thereof, said front and rear posts having relatively shallow horizontal grooves formed in the adjacent faces thereof at corresponding vertically spaced intervals to receive edge portions of shelves when the frame assembly is erected as a part of a rack section, said bottom and top rails having fastening openings therein and there being at least two such openings in each rail and such openings being located on opposite sides of the central front to rear plane of said frame assembly with each opening located midway between said plane land the adjacent side edges of the rail, and tie rod means extended between said front and rear posts intermediate the upper and lower rails to prevent outward bowing of the posts under load.

WILLIAM S. HOLABIRD. THOMAS B. BETTERTON. 

